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Heinkel He 178

Germany · Interwar (1919–1938)

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The Heinkel He 178 was a German experimental single-seat aircraft — the world's first aircraft powered solely by a turbojet engine and the first jet aircraft to fly. Hans von Ohain designed the Heinkel HeS 3 turbojet engine in 1937-1938 with Heinkel airframe support; pilot Erich Warsitz flew the world's first jet flight on 27 August 1939 — three days before Germany invaded Poland and started WWII. Only 1 He 178 was built; the type was abandoned in 1941 after the Reich Air Ministry expressed disinterest. The airframe was destroyed in an Allied bombing raid on Berlin in 1943.

The He 178 used a Heinkel HeS 3B turbojet engine (~500 kgf thrust). Maximum speed 598 km/h, endurance only ~10 minutes (fuel capacity was minimal). The aircraft was a small wooden monoplane with retractable landing gear and a fully-enclosed cockpit. The HeS 3B engine was the world's first in-service turbojet — predating Frank Whittle's British engine first run in April 1937 by independent invention (Hans von Ohain's design work began 1934).

He 178 testing was limited to ~12 flights between August 1939 and December 1939. The aircraft demonstrated jet-propelled flight for the first time + validated Hans von Ohain's turbojet design. Reich Air Ministry officials viewed a demonstration flight on 1 November 1939 but expressed disinterest — German aviation leadership was committed to piston-engine fighter development (Bf 109, He 111) and didn't see jet propulsion as immediately useful. The He 178 was retired to the Berlin Air Museum in 1941 and destroyed in an Allied bombing raid in 1943. The He 178 represents one of the most-large historical aircraft of the 20th century but received no in-service recognition during WWII.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Heinkel He 178 was the world's first jet aircraft. It made the first powered jet flight on August 27, 1939, just 3 days before Germany invaded Poland and started World War II. Test pilot Erich Warsitz flew the He 178. Only 1 He 178 was built. The plane was destroyed by an Allied bombing raid on Berlin in 1943.

The He 178 is small, about 24 feet long, smaller than a school bus. One Heinkel HeS 3 turbojet engine made 1,100 pounds of thrust. The HeS 3 was the world's first working turbojet, invented by Hans von Ohain. Top speed is 372 mph, faster than most race cars. Endurance was only 10 minutes because the engine ran on a small fuel tank.

The He 178 had retractable landing gear and a fully-enclosed cockpit. It made about 12 powered flights between August and December 1939. The Reich Air Ministry was not interested in jet planes at first. The Heinkel team had little German military support and stopped He 178 testing in 1941.

Hans von Ohain's jet engine work began in 1934, similar to British engineer Frank Whittle's work in England. Whittle's first engine ran in April 1937, but the first British jet did not fly until May 1941. Von Ohain's He 178 beat Whittle by 21 months. The He 178 is the historical birthplace of jet aviation.

Fun Facts

The He 178 was the world's first jet aircraft, flying August 27, 1939.
The He 178 is 24 feet long, smaller than a school bus.
Top speed is 372 mph, faster than most race cars.
Only 1 He 178 was built.
The HeS 3 turbojet was invented by Hans von Ohain.
Endurance was only 10 minutes per flight.
The He 178 beat Britain's first jet flight by 21 months.

Kids’ Questions

Who invented jet engines?

Two engineers invented the jet engine independently in the 1930s. Hans von Ohain in Germany began work in 1934, with first run in April 1937 and first flight in August 1939. Frank Whittle in Britain also began in 1929, with first run in April 1937 and first flight in May 1941. Each invented the jet without knowing about the other.

How does a jet engine work?

A jet engine sucks air in the front, squeezes it with a spinning compressor, mixes it with fuel, and burns the mixture. The hot expanded gas rushes out the back, pushing the plane forward. A turbine in the exhaust spins the compressor, keeping the cycle going. Jet engines are simpler than piston engines and produce much more power for their weight.

Why didn't Germany care?

In 1939, German leaders thought the war would be short. They invested in proven piston-engine fighters and bombers instead of risky new jets. Heinkel had little support for the He 178. By 1942, Germany realized jets were the future and pushed the Me 262 program. But the He 178 itself was abandoned. The lessons learned helped later German jets.

Variants

He 178 (sole prototype): Single airframe. ~12 flights August-December 1939.

Notable Operators

Heinkel Flugzeugwerke (test programme only): Sole user. Test pilot Erich Warsitz flew all jet missions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was the He 178 really the first jet aircraft?

Yes — the first turbojet-powered aircraft to fly. Erich Warsitz flew the world's first turbojet flight on 27 August 1939 at Marienehe airfield, Germany. Frank Whittle's British W.1 turbojet (designed independently around the same time) flew first on 15 May 1941 in the Gloster E.28/39 airframe — nearly 2 years after the He 178. Hans von Ohain's German invention preceded Whittle's British invention in airborne flight but not in patent priority (Whittle filed first in 1930). Both inventors independently developed the turbojet concept.

Why didn't the Luftwaffe pursue the He 178?

The Reich Air Ministry viewed jet propulsion as not immediately useful for the war effort. German aviation leadership (Ernst Udet, Erhard Milch) had committed to piston-engine fighter development (Bf 109, He 111). The He 178's 10-minute endurance + uncertain combat utility didn't justify the investment of resources needed to develop in-service jet fighters. The Luftwaffe later reversed this decision in 1942-1944 with crash programmes producing the Me 262 + Heinkel He 162.

What happened to the He 178?

The single airframe was retired to the Berlin Air Museum in 1941 after Reich Air Ministry disinterest ended the test programme. The Berlin Air Museum (Deutsche Luftfahrtsammlung) was destroyed in an Allied bombing raid in 1943 — taking the He 178 with it. No He 178 components survive. The world's first jet aircraft exists only in photographs + Hans von Ohain's memoirs.

Sources

Wikipedia — Heinkel He 178